Knowledge of strategies for the expression of emotion among normal and maladjusted boys: a research note

Younger (7-8 years) and older (10-11 years) boys from normal schools and from schools for the maladjusted were given two tests to assess their knowledge of strategies of control for both facial and overt behavioural expression of a negative emotion. The results indicated firstly that there is a developmental change in the spontaneous mention of a display rule with this developmental trend being retarded amongst the maladjusted boys. Secondly, there was a difference between the normal and maladjusted boys' knowledge of strategies for control of behaviour in a conflict situation.